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OnLive launches in the UK

Cloud gaming service finally debuts in the UK with special offers for BT broadband customers.

OnLive, the cloud gaming service that launched in the US last year, is now live in the UK.

The service launches with a library of some 150 games, playable instantly on an HDTV, PC or Mac, with iPad and Android tablet support to be added in future. Games can be bought individually, with prices starting at £1.99, or played through a subscription package, the PlayPack Bundle, which costs £6.99 a month.

In the UK, OnLive has partnered with BT - no great surprise given that BT was an early investor in the company. To celebrate the launch BT is offering its broadband customers a free, three-month subscription to the service, during which time it will also waive its bandwidth usage limits.

Founder and CEO Steve Perlman said: "OnLive is incredibly excited to bring instant-play, on-demand cloud gaming to the UK. OnLive is an entirely new way of experiencing top-tier videogames, anywhere, any time and on virtually any connected device."

We'll be publishing an in-depth interview with Perlman on the site later today. For more, visit OnLive.co.uk.

Comments

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cpb001
September 22, 2011 at 8.29pm

Saw this article this morning

Saw this article this morning so I went to the onlive website and signed up. 5 mins later I was playing Batman : Arkham Asylum with a USB XBox joypad on my laptop - which under normal circumstances would not have a hope in hell of running the game. Joypad integrates flawlessly with the service too - which I have to say is not always the case.I have a Virgin Media 10 meg fibre op connection which seems to work just fine. With it hooked up to my 42 inch plasma it plays and feels just like the PS3 version of the game which I already have. Graphically it's clearly not as good as true 720p but, with 'no hardware' required I have to say it's absolutely bloody brilliant. Clearly there is something to this 'cloud gaming' business because this doesn't sound like it should work, but it it really does. It takes literally seconds to register, download the client, pick a game and go. If there is any lag between control input and execution (which there clearly must be since the whole thing is online!) I can't feel it. The whole thing seems pretty solid to me. I'm not that easily impressed but reading this back, I already sound like I work for these guys. Give it a go people - you will be impressed.
PrintedCrayon
September 23, 2011 at 10.07am

Whilst I am disappointed that

Whilst I am disappointed that nothing was mentioned of the BT deal that OnLive are offering (I'm a BT Infinity customer) the service so far has been fantastic, games run superbly even over wi-fi, they look great and they work on my MacBook! I'm very impressed with the technology, I just don't think enough consumers will embrace it.

Throughout the US launch and OnLive's life cycle people have been very cynical and when services such as Steam and Xbox Live are so widely used (and loved) I can't see people making the effort to try out this new service. That's not even mentioning Gaikai which will no doubt provide stern competition in the future.

 

It's a shame, as it's a brilliant way for those of us with little to no PC hardware capable of running games, to actually be able to play big releases such as Deus Ex: Human Revolution. I can only hope OnLive finds steady footing in the UK market.

ArronC07
September 23, 2011 at 9.18pm

Call me old fashioned but I

Call me old fashioned but I prefer my physical media.